Southease circular

By Ben Perkins

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Starting from Southease, half way along the valley of the River Ouse between Lewes and Newhaven, a well-graded climb takes us up on to the Downs at Itford Hill.

A fine open section of the South Downs Way follows, offering spectacular views across the Ouse valley towards Lewes and Mount Caburn and northwards into the Weald.

Turning southwards towards the sea, the path drops down to follow the floor of a quiet downland valley and continues over the southern shoulder of Snap Hill to reach the settlements of Denton and South Heighton.

In complete contrast, the last three miles of this fairly substantial nine-mile circuit follows the raised Ouse river bank from the outskirts of Newhaven back to the start.

Much of the walk uses well-drained paths and tracks, making it particularly suitable for the wet winter months.

1.From your parking spot, walk eastwards along the lane past Southease Station and on towards the A26. A few yards short of the buildings of Itford farm, turn right along a track, signed as the South Downs Way, which takes you up and over a fine new footbridge providing a safe crossing for riders and pedestrians over the busy A26.

A good chalk and flint-based track now climbs steadily up the slope of Itford Hill. About two thirds of the way up, turn left at a waypost and follow a grassy path, soon with a fence on your right, then curving right up across open downland.

Continue along the ridge, passing a trig point next to Red Lion Pond, marked on the map but now permanently dry. Carry on along the South Downs Way, passing immediately to the left of the twin radio masts on Beddingham Hill.

2.After another half mile, you will reach the point where a road comes up the Downs from the left next to a small car park. Turn right here, leaving the South Downs Way to follow the access drive to Blackcap Farm.

Walk between the farm buildings, forward through a bridle gate and along a grassy path which follows the left edge of two fields, eventually dropping down into a quiet downland combe.

At the bottom of the hill, go through a gate and ahead along the floor of this dry valley, Stump Bottom.

3.After a little over a quarter of a mile, at a T-junction, turn right.

There are two parallel paths ahead. Yours is the one to the left which follows a chalk and flint track between grassy banks. At a path junction, go straight ahead. At the next path junction, turn left for just ten yards before going half-right over a stile.

Go ahead to cross two more stiles, then straight over a crossing path and another stile to contour along a hillside covered with patchy scrub and trees, soon ignoring a stile on the left.

The path now winds through thicker woodland, crossing two more stiles en route and continuing beside a left-hand fence.

4.Join an estate road on the edge of Denton and go ahead. Just short of a road junction turn right along a path, paved at first, which drops downhill. After a few yards go ahead along the top of a grassy bank to reach the end of a cul-desac road.

Go straight ahead here on a path which drops down through scrub, soon with a high wiremesh fence on your right to join another road down a flight of steps.

Turn right and immediately left along Heighton Road. Beyond the flint-walled parish church on your left, there is a good segregated path to the right. Follow the road as far as South Heighton, ignoring all side roads.

5.A few yards after the main road bends round to the right, turn left along South View Terrace. After ten yards, fork left along a narrow bridleway signed with a stone plinth, which runs between gardens, then beside an estate road.

Without change of direction an enclosed path continues downhill, crossing two more estate roads, to join the B2109 opposite the entrance to Paradise Park. Turn right beside the road and after a little over 100 yards, go left along New Road, following it through to the A26.

6.Turn left and, after another 200 yards or so, turn sharply back to the right along an industrial estate road. After about 150 yards, go left over a stile and along a narrow path which takes you across the railway and on to reach the Ouse riverbank.

Turn right and follow the raised riverbank for the best part of three miles back to the start, joining the lane next to the old swing bridge over the Ouse at Southease.